Pressure vessel closure



Sept. 17, 1940. A. T. THOMPSON 2,215,412

PRESSURE VESSEL cnosrmmV v Filed oct. 26. li957 -v 3 l f TMm/D607@Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES gnam rr cries 1 Claim.

The invention relates to closures for pressure vessels, and has for itsobject to provide a closure disposed Within the chamber of the Vessel,and having initial holding means for holding the closure in closedposition until pressure is built up within the vessel.

A further object is to provide the closure with downwardly extendingspring arms adapted to be forced inwardly by engagement with a bevelledsurface around the filling opening, on the inner side thereof, and tospring over an annular flange within the filling opening and engage abevelled surface around the outer side of the filling opening so thespring action of the spring arms will cause a seating of the coveragainst the gasket and prevent leaking.

A further object is to provide the outer ends of the spring arms withoutwardly and downwardly extending portions cooperating with the outerbevelled surface ,for insuring the proper seating of the cover at alltimes.

4 A further object is to provide, in connection with an internal closurewithin the chamber of a receptacle, arms carried by the closure and eX-tending into the lling opening and provided with vertically elongatedbolt receiving apertures for bolts carried by the wall of the fillingopening for initially holding the closure in closed position untilpressure is built up within the receptacle for compressing the gasketand forming a leakproof connection.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a View in elevation of the receptacle. i

Y Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the lower endof the receptacle andthe cover.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the lower end of thereceptacle, showing the closure in top elevation.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of another form of receptacle.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the lower endof the receptacle, shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan View of the receptacle.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates a conventional formof metallic receptacle in which gas or other material is stored, whichmay or may not generate pressure. The receptacle I is provided with achamber 2 having a 5 relatively large filling opening 3, which allowsaccess to the chamber 2 for filling, cleaning sterilizing purposes. The"filling opening I extends through the bottom A of the receptacle.`

Disposed within the chamber 2 is a closure 5, 10 which closure may be ofthe internal captive type if desired. Closure 5 is provided with acentral threaded aperture 6 for the reception of a tool or bolt forsnapping the closure to closed position. When in closed position, the l5closure 5 seats on and compresses a gasket 'I on the inner side of thebottom 4. Extending downwardly from the under side of the closure 5 area plurality of spring arms 8, which are relatively heavy and whichterminate in outwardlyY and downwardly extending angular portions 9,which spring into engagement with the bevelled outer portion II! of thefilling opening for taking up any play which may develop and insuring aconstant compression of the gasket l. The upper side of the fillingopening 3 is provided with an annular bevelled surface II, with whichthe arms 9 engage when the closure is clamped to closed position.Surfaces II spring the arms 9 inwardlyr until they spring over the 30filling opening into frictional engagement with the bevelled surface IQ,hence it will be seen that the closure can be easily and quickly snappedto closed position by the operator, and a sealing of the closure will bemaintained at 35 all times, no matter whether there is pressure withinthe chamber 2 or not.

In handling the closure, the operator inserts a tool or bolt into thethreaded opening IZ in the under side of the closure, therefore it willbe seen that sufficient power can be obtained for springing the arms 8through the filling opening.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, in this form, the closure 5 isprovided with downwardly extending rigid members I3, which arepreferably arcuately shaped for engaging the periphery of the fillingopening 3 for properly centering the closure, and in engagement with thegasket l. In this form the members I3 are provided with 'verticalelongated apertures III, through which bolts I5 extend. After theclosure has been placed in closed position, and the bolts insertedthrough the elongated apertures I4, it will be seen that pressure, builtup within the cham- 55 ber 2 of the receptacle I, will force the closureinto tight engagement with the gasket for a sealing operation. Theelongated apertures I4 allow movement of the cover under pressure.Figure 5 shows the cover under pressure, and it will be noted that whileunder extreme pressure the members I3 will not extend to the outside ofthe lling opening 3 where the cover would be effected during thehandling of the receptacles.

From the above it will be seen that a pressure Vessel closure isprovided which is simple in construction, and one which may be easilyclosed, and the closure shown in Figure 2 may be snapped to closedposition by a single operation, and it will take up any play which maydevelop through themedium of its spring arms 8.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis:

A receptacle closure disposed within the chamber of a receptacle over afilling opening, outwardly extending spring arms carried by the closureand extending through the filling opening in spaced relation to the wallof the lling opening, said spring arms terminating in outwardlydiverging arms, said outwardly diverging arms engaging a bevelledsurface form-ing the outer portion of the iilling opening, a bevelledsurface forming the inner portion of the filling opening and adapted tobe engaged by the diverging arms for flexing the spring arms inwardlywhen the closure is forced to closed position,` said spring arms anddiverging arms being entirely disposed within the opening when theclosure is in closed position.

ALBERT T. THOMPSON.

